Employment in Central Oregon: January 2019

Employment was up across Central Oregon in January compared with the same time last year. Yet, levels of unemployment are essentially unchanged from January 2018. Recent revisions to the employment estimates from last year revealed that the pace of hiring was slower than initially estimated in both Deschutes and Jefferson counties, but faster in Crook County.

Crook County: The unemployment rate rose to 6.3 percent in January from 5.9 percent in December. The rate is largely unchanged from this time last year when it was 6.4 percent.

Crook County lost 190 jobs in January, larger losses than typically expected this time of year.

Total nonfarm employment was up 2.3 percent from January 2018 (+130 jobs). Job growth was concentrated in professional and business services; education and health services; and information. These gains were large enough to overcome losses in construction and federal government.

Recent revisions revealed that employment growth for Crook County in 2018 was stronger than initially estimated. Total nonfarm employment was revised up by 140 jobs. Employment levels were up by 1.9 percent in 2018 compared with 2017. The original estimates had Crook County’s total nonfarm employment down by 0.5 percent.

Deschutes County (Bend-Redmond MSA): The unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in January, a statistically significant increase from 4.4 percent in December. The rate is up slightly from the same time last year when it was 4.2 percent.

Deschutes County lost 1,540 jobs in January, fairly typical losses for this time of year.

Total nonfarm employment is up by 3.0 percent (+2,480 jobs) from January 2018. The rate of job growth is significantly slower than this time last year when it was 5.3 percent. All major private industry sectors posted job growth over the past year, with the largest gains in professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; construction; and manufacturing. The only significant job losses were in government, in particular, local government.

Annual revisions to the 2018 employment data revealed that the original estimates were too high. Annual average total nonfarm employment for 2018 was revised down by 900 jobs. Employment gains in construction, wholesale trade, transportation, and local government were all revised down.

Jefferson County: The unemployment rate rose to 5.9 percent in January, an increase from 5.5 percent in December. The rate was 5.7 percent this time last year.

Jefferson County lost 70 jobs in January, about half as many losses as typically expected for this time of year.

The rate of job growth in Jefferson County was revised down, with total nonfarm employment up 3.4 percent (+220 jobs) in January from the same time last year. Previous estimates had rates of job growth surpassing 5 percent. Job growth over the past year was largely concentrated in manufacturing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. The only notable job losses over the past year were in retail trade.

The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly payroll employment and labor force data for Oregon’s metropolitan areas and counties. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources.

The Oregon Employment Department payroll employment estimates are revised quarterly using information from unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use data from this official Oregon series unless noted.

The department also makes the BLS-produced nonfarm payroll employment series for metropolitan areas available. These are revised annually by BLS.

The pdf version of the news release, including tables and graphs, can be found at www.qualityinfo.org/press-release/. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit www.QualityInfo.org, select Economic Data, and choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

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For help finding jobs and training resources, visit one of the state’s WorkSource Oregon Centers or go to: www.WorkSourceOregon.org.

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For the deaf and hard of hearing population, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

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CASCADE BUSINESS NEWS

Cascade Business News (CBN), Central Oregon's business newspaper, is local and family-owned and operated by Jeff Martin. CBN is published the first and third Wednesdays of each month. CBN is a division of Cascade Publications Inc.